Metering valve

ABSTRACT

A metering valve comprises a valve block that has at least one fluid carrying duct through which a pressurized fluid may flow and that has at least two valve ducts intersecting the fluid carrying duct wherein each valve duct carries a valve rod. Each valve rod has at least one radial passage in the form of a groove or a bore. The radial passages of each valve rod are disposed in a fixed relationship to each other and are capable of reciprocating across the fluid carrying duct as a unit for intermitting the fluid flow through the fluid carrying duct. A means for changing the fixed relationship between the radial passages of the valve rods is provided whereby the duration of the intermission of the fluid flow can be changed.

United States Patent Williams [4 1 Oct.. 17, 1972 [54] METERING VALVE I Primary Examiner- Alan Cohan [72] Inventor: Charles 11. Williams, Export, Pa. Trenor et [73] Assignee: Koppers Company, Inc. [57] BS RA T Filed? June 22, 1971 A metering valve comprises a valve block that has at [21] APPL No; 155,478 least one iluid carrying duct through which a pressurrzed fluid may flow and that has at least two valve I ducts intersecting the fluid carrying duct wherein each [52] 1.1.8. CL, ..l37/624.l5, 251/324 valve duct carries a valve rod. Each valve rod has at [51] lilt- Cl. ..Fl6l' 3/24 least one adi passage in the f of a groove or a [58] Field of Search ..l37/624.13, 624.15, 624.18, hora The radial passages of each valve rod are 137/6242 251/324 disposed in a fixed relationship to each other and are a capable of reciprocating across the fluid carrying duct [56] References Cned as a unit for intermitting the fluid flow through the UNITED STATES PATENTS fluid carrying duct. A means for changing the fixed v relationship between the radial passages of the valve 3,090,369 5/ 1963 coflew "137/ 6 X rods is provided whereby the duration of the intermis- 3,047,0l5 7/1962 Buck ..137/624.17 Sign f the fl id fl can be changed 3,610,281 12/1971 Reinert ..l37/624.15

12 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED 17 I97? 3. 6 98 .43 6 sum 2 0F 3 FIG. 2

- INVENTOR.

4 CHARLES/f. WILL/4M5 BY JMA. W

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PATENTEUBEH? m2 {3.698.436

V SHEET 3 0F 3 FIG. 5

INVENTOR.

Vlad. ,6. J nn METERING VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for periodically ejecting a quantity of fluid as a jet stream and, more particularly, to a metering valve for use in conjunction with high pressure pumps and the like that accurately apportions the fluid flow into pulses of fluid. In the impregnation of wood and other porous materials with various treating agents it has been general practice to use pressurevessels operating upon a batch basis to impregnate the wood with the treating agent. The use of pressure vessels has not been completely satisfactory as an extended period of time is required to treat the wood at costs that are undesirable. Also, the size and shape of the objects to be treated is restricted to the size and shape of the treating vessels.

In response to these problems various devices have been developed such as the device described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,318,725. The device described in U. S. Pat. No. 3,318,725 has a plurality of jet nozzles that are arranged in a predetermined laterally spaced relationship to each other and in an adjacent relationship to the surface of a workpiece to be treated. There is provided means for supplying a treating solution under pressure of about 10,000-50,000 psi to all of the nozzles for simultaneous discharge from the nozzles and a conveyor for moving the workpiece relative to the nozzles. A conventional metering valve is disposed between the supply means and the jet nozzles to apportion the flow of fluid through the jet nozzles as jet pulses of fluid. The jet pulses of fluid are discharged intermittantly from the nozzles when the workpiece is stationary; while the workpiece is advanced by the conveyor relative to the jet nozzles to a new position the supply of treating solution to the nozzles is cut off by the valve. To this end, the metering valve includes a rather elaborate control system comprising a solenoid and an electrical timer that actuate the valve for a given time interval to inject the treating solution or fluid into the workpiece.

l have developed a metering valve which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple in operation as an alternative for the metering valve described in U.S. Pat. 3,318,725. The use of a costly solenoid and timer control arrangement I is unnecessary with my metering valve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention a metering valve for periodically dispensing a predetermined quantity of fluid under pressure comprises a valve block that has at least one fluid path through which the pressurized fluid flows, at least two means that are disposed in the valve block in a fixed relationship to each other and that are capable of reciprocating across the fluid path as a unit for intermitting the fluid flow through the valve block at predetermined intervals, means for reciprocating the V intermitting means across the fluid path at a constant speed, and means for changing the fixed relationship between each of the intermitting means whereby the duration of the fluid intermission of the fluid flow is changed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the metering valve of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of a crosssection of the metering valve of FIG. 1 taken at line II-lI;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a cross-section of an embodiment of a fluid ejector device using the valve of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1-4 the metering valve 11 includes a hous- 1 ing 13 having a fluid carrying duct 15 and two valve ducts 17, two valve rods 19 carried by the valve ducts l7 and being disposed in a fixed relationship to each other, an oscillating means 21 for oscillating the valve rods 19 in the valve ducts'l7, and an adjusting means 23 for adjusting the fixed relationship between the two valve rods 19.

The housing 13 is a conventional solid valve block composed of a metal such as steel, brass or the like and has at least one fluid carrying duct or fluid path 15 through which a fluid may pass therethrough. The fluid carrying duct 15 cooperates with a fluidsupply duct 16 which carries a supply of fluid to duct 15 from an external source as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The valve illustrated in FIG. I has one fluid duct 15, however, it may have a plurality of ducts 15 in accordance with the invention. The housing 13 includes at least two valve rod ducts 17 that intersect the fluid carrying duct 15. The valve rod ducts 17 illustrated in FIG. 2 are in a substantially parallel relationship to each other and in, a substantially perpendicular relationship to the fluid carrying duct 15; however, it will be recognized that it is not critical that the valve ducts be so arranged.

Each valve duct 17 carries a valve rod 19 in slideable association therewith; Each valve rod 19 is disposed within the valve duct 17 such that the fluid may not leak through the valve duct 17. To this end conventional seals and bearings 20 are used. The valve rods 19 are elongate members having a substantially circular cross-section; however, the valve rods may have a noncircular cross-configuration such as a rectangular cross-section or the like.

Each valve rod 19 has at least one radially disposed passage or channel 25 in the form of a peripheral groove on the external surface of the valve rod 19 as shown in FIGS. 2-4 or in the form of an aperture passing through a diameter of the rod (not shown). The radial passages 25 of each valve rod reciprocate across fluid path 15 to create pulses of fluid that are ejected from the valve. 'When the radial passages 25 of the valve rods 19 are aligned with the fluid carrying duct 15 the fluid is capable of passing beyond that valve rod so aligned. However, when the radial passages 25 of the valve rods are not aligned with the fluid carrying duct 15 the flow of fluid beyond that valve rod is terminated.

The oscillating means 21 in FIGS. 1 and 3 comprises a drive cam 27, a motor 29 for driving cam 27, a cam follower 31, a guide means 33 for the cam follower 31, and a valve rod puller 35 connected to the valve rods 19 and to the cam follower 31.

Cam 27 is conventional having a predetermined configuration and is mounted for rotation. Motor 29 is conventional and is arranged to drive cam 27. The cam follower 31 is conventional and is mounted in operative association with the cam 27 as shown and is mounted .within guide 33 which restrains the movement of the cam follower 31 to a substantially horizontal reciprocating movement. The valve rod puller 35 is conventional and is mounted to the valve rods and to the cam follower 31. As the cam-27 rotates cam follower 31 reciprocates horizontally and the valve rod puller 35 likewise reciprocates the valve rods 19 as a unit in their valve rod ducts 17.

The valve rods 19 and their radial passages 25 are arranged in a fixed predetermined axial relationship to each other and to the fluid duct 15. In FIG. 3 the radial passages 25 of both valve rods are aligned in respect of each other whereas in FIG. 4 the radial passages 25 of both valve rods are misaligned in respect to each other so that they do overlap each other. If desired, however, the relationship between the radial passages 25 of each valve rod 15 may be changed to accommodate a desired fixed relationship such as, for example, a partially superimposed relationship in respect of each other.

To this end, the adjusting means 23 is capable of changing the fixed relationship between the conduits 25 of the valve rods. In FIGS. 3 and 4 the adjusting means comprises conventional turnbuckles. If desired, the turnbuckles may be calibrated.

The advantage of having at least two valve rods so .that their radial passages 25 are disposed in a fixed relationship and so that they move as a unit is that the ejection time of the fluid flow from the valve can be adjusted by the adjusting means 23 while using a single speed electrical motor 29 without requiring any changes in the motor speed. As will be recognized the fluid ejection time is controlled to the extent of overlap of the radial passages 25 of each valve rod 19 with respect to each other, the ratio between the diameter or width of the radial passages 25 in each valve rod and the diameter of the fluid carrying duct 15, and, the velocity at which each valve rod and its associated radial passage 25 oscillates in respect of the fluid carrying duct 15. As the valve rods reciprocate across the fluid path as a unit the fluid flow is apportioned into pulses whose duration is dependent on the foregoing variables.

The valve block 13 includes a safety relief valve rod 41 carried in a relief valve duct 43 that intersects the fluid path 15 as shown in FIGS. 2-5. The relief valve rod 41 has a radial passage or channel 45 similar to that of valve rods 19 in the form of a peripheral groove as shown in FIGS. 2-5. The radial passage 45 is usually not aligned with fluid path 15 so that no pressurized fluid beyond the relief valve rod 41. When the radial passage 45 of the relief valve rod 41 is aligned with fluid path 15 the pressurized fluid passes beyond the rod 41 to relieve the fluid path 15 of its pressurized fluid.

In FIG. an embodiment of a fluid ejector device 51 is illustrated using the valve of FIG. 1. There is provided a source of fluid and a con'ventional pump 53 for pressurizing the fluid. When the ejector 51 is used to inject a fluid treating solution into wood the pressures developed by pump 53 are about l0,000-50,000 psi and preferably 35,000 psi.

The ejector includes a housing that may be independently secured to the valve 11 by fasteners 57. The

housing has an internal jet chamber 59 having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of fluid path 15 of the valve at one end 61 and having a orifice 63 of a reduced diameter of minute cross-section at the other end. A desirable feature of housing 55 is that it may conveniently be replaced with another housing having a different size cross-section at end 63 of the jet chamber 59. The pressurized fluid in fluid path 15 is released from the ejector via the jet chamber 59 of housing 55. The particular diameter of the jet chamber may vary as desired from 0.003 to 0.010 inch. The upper limit of the orifice size being a practical limit in that the holes formed in the workpiece being injected with the pressurized fluid will be the same size as the orifice 63.

What is claimed is:

l. A valve for periodically dispensing a predeterv mined quantity of fluid under pressure comprising:

a. a valve block having at least one fluid path through which said fluid flows;

b. at least two means being disposed in said valve block in a fixed relationship to each other and being capable of reciprocating across said fluid path as a unit for intermitting the fluid flow therethrough at predetermined intervals;

0. means for reciprocating said intermitting means across said fluid path at a constant speed; and

d. means for changing the fixed relationship between each of said intermitting means whereby the duration of the fluid intermission of said fluid flow is changed. 2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said intermitting means comprises elongate members having a peripheral groove thereon.

3. The valve of claim 1 wherein said intermitting means comprises elongate members having an apertur extending through a diameter thereof.

4. The valve of claim 1 wherein said oscillating means comprises:

a. a cam of predetermined configuration mounted for rotation;

b. a drive means for said cam;

c. a cam follower that is operatively associated with said cam and mounted to reciprocate as said cam rotates;

d. a guide means in which said follower is mounted for restraining the motion of said follower roll to a horizontal reciprocating movement; and

e. a valve rod puller connected to said valve rods and said cam follower for reciprocating said intermitting means as said cam is rotated.

5. The valve of claim 1 wherein said changing means comprises convention turnbuckles.

6. The valve of claim 1 wherein said valve block has a means intersecting said fluid path remote from said intermitting means for relieving said fluid path of said pressurized fluid.

7. A fluid ejector for periodically ejecting a quantity of fluid comprising:

a. a valve block having at least one fluid path through b. means for supplying said fluid under pressure to said fluid path;

c. means for releasing said fluid from said fluid path as a jet stream of minute cross-section;

d. at least two means being disposed in said valve block in'a fixed relationship to each other and being capable of reciprocatingly intersecting said fluid path for apportioning said fluid into pulses of fluid for a predetermined ejection time;

e. means for reciprocating said apportioning means at a constant speed; and

f. means between said reciprocating means and said apportioning means for changing the fixed relationship between said apportioning means whereby the duration of said ejection time ischanged. 8. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said supplying means is a conventional high pressure pump that is capable of creating pressures in excess of 50,000 psi.

9. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said releasing means comprises a housing being severally connected to said valve block and having an internal jet chamber therethrough communicating with said fluid path of said valve block.

10. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said jet chamber starts at a first aperture on said housing matching the diameter of said fluid path and converges to terminate at an aperture of a predetermined minute diameter.

11. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said valve block has a means intersecting said fluid path remote from said apportioning means for relieving said fluid path of said pressurized fluid.

12. A valve for dispensing finite: quantities of a pressurized fluid comprising:

a. a housing having i. a fluid carrying duct; and

ii. at least two valve ducts that intersect said fluid carrying duct;

b. valve rods disposed in said valve ducts, said valve rods having at least one passage passing radially through the rod so that when said conduit is aligned with said fluid carrying duct the pressurized fluid passes therethrough, each of said conduits being arranged in a fixed relationship with each other;

c. oscillating means connected to said valve rods for oscillating said valve rods in said valve ducts so that saidconduits oscillate across said fluid carrying duct in a related relationship and interrupt and divide said pressurized fluid into pulses of fluid for a predetermined ejection time; and

d. means for changing the fixed relationship between the conduits of said valve rods. 

1. A valve for periodically dispensing a predetermined quantity of fluid under pressure comprising: a. a valve block having at least one fluid path through which said fluid flows; b. at least two means being disposed in said valve block in a fixed relationship to each other and being capable of reciprocating across said fluid path as a unit for intermitting the fluid flow therethrough at predetermined intervals; c. means for reciprocating said intermitting means across said fluid path at a constant speed; and d. means for changing the fixed relationship between each of said intermitting means whereby the duration of the fluid intermission of said fluid flow is changed.
 2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said intermitting means comprises elongate members having a peripheral groove thereon.
 3. The valve of claim 1 wherein said intermitting means comprises elongate members having an aperture extending through a diameter thereof.
 4. The valve of claim 1 wherein said oscillating means comprises: a. a cam of predetermined configuration mounted for rotation; b. a drive means for said cam; c. a cam follower that is operatively associated with said cam and mounted to reciprocate as said cam rotates; d. a guide means in which said follower is mounted for restraining the motion of said follower roll to a horizontal reciprocating movement; and e. a valve rod puller connected to said valve rods and said cam follower for reciprocating said intermitting means as said cam is rotated.
 5. The valve of claim 1 wherein said changing means comprises convention turnbuckles.
 6. The valve of claim 1 wherein said valve block has a means intersecting said fluid path remote from said intermitting means for relieving said fluid path of said pressurized fluid.
 7. A fluid ejector for periodically ejecting a quantity of fluid comprising: a. a valve block having at least one fluid path through which said fluid flows; b. means for supplying said fluid under pressure to said fluid path; c. means for releasing said fluid from said fluid path as a jet stream of minute cross-section; d. at least two means being disposed in said valve block in a fixed relationship to each other and being capable of reciprocatingly intersecting said fluid path for apportioning said fluid into pulses of fluid for a predetermined ejection time; e. means for reciprocating said apportioning means at a constant speed; and f. means between said reciprocating means and said apportioning means for changing the fixed relationship between said apportioning means whereby the duration of said ejection time is changed.
 8. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said supplying means is a conventional high pressure pump that is capable of creating pressures in excess of 50,000 psi.
 9. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said releasing means comprises a housing being severally connected to said valve block and having an internal jet chamber therethrough communicating with said fluid path of said valve block.
 10. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said jet chamber starts at a first aperture on said housing matching the diameter of said fluid path and converges to terminate at an aperture of a predetermined minute diameter.
 11. The fluid ejector of claim 7 wherein said valve block has a means intersecting said fluid path remote from said apportioning means for relieving said fluid path of said pressurized fluid.
 12. A valve for dispensing finite quantities of a pressurized fluid comprising: a. a housing having i. a fluid carrying duct; and ii. at least two valve ducts that intersect said fluid carrying duct; b. valve rods disposed in said valve ducts, said valve rods having at least one passage passing radially through the rod so that when said conduit is aligned with said flUid carrying duct the pressurized fluid passes therethrough, each of said conduits being arranged in a fixed relationship with each other; c. oscillating means connected to said valve rods for oscillating said valve rods in said valve ducts so that said conduits oscillate across said fluid carrying duct in a related relationship and interrupt and divide said pressurized fluid into pulses of fluid for a predetermined ejection time; and d. means for changing the fixed relationship between the conduits of said valve rods. 